The OABGM was set up so that Business Managers in Oxfordshire Academies, including Multi-Academy Trusts, could meet regularly to resolve issues collaboratively. As Local Authority services are rationalised and further schools convert to academy status, this group faces common challenges and there are huge benefits from pooling experience and buying power. The Group facilitates the following:

Presentations by suppliers for services of interest to the group

Collaborative procurement leveraging the group spend to benefit academies of all types and sizes

Open forum to act as the enabler for discussion on aspects such as the sharing of best practice, documentation, policies and procedures

Shared training and CPD opportunities

In addition the group has an online forum which provides:

A forum to start discussions

A central repository for standard documents and policies

A list of useful links to various education organisations, suppliers etc